English language proficiency
Graduate School of Social Sciences (GSSS)
In order to demonstrate this English proficiency, you must submit an English test score meeting our minimum test score requirements (see below for the tests and scores) at the time of applying. Inability to do so means that your application cannot be processed. Your test score may not be more than 2 years old.
Way of submitting score
You must upload a digital copy of your test score report to your application file in MyInfo.
Note for Chinese students
Chinese students are strongly recommended to take either the IELTS test or the TOEFL iBT, as one of these test is required for their visa application.
Exemptions
If you have serious reasons to believe you should be exempted from taking an official English language test, or if you took the test more than 2 years ago, you will need to file a strongly motivated, official waiver request at the Graduate School of Social Sciences by sending an e-mail (including relevant experience with the English language, your CV, a sample of your best written work in English, and any other official evidence of your English proficiency) to apply-gsss@uva.nl . Please note that we need to receive this official request at least 1 month before the official Master’s programme application deadline (please see our website for the actual deadlines) to allow the admissions committee enough time to review your request (a waiver requests may take up to 4 weeks to process). It is the student’s own responsibility to arrange a timely waiver request.
We will communicate the admissions committee’s decision regarding your waiver request via e-mail. In the case your waiver request has been granted, please submit your MyInfo application including proof of your granted waiver request before the Master’s application deadline (please see website for the actual deadlines). Incomplete application files cannot be processed.
The following applicants are automatically exempted from the requirement to submit an English test score:
- Applicants who have obtained their English taught Bachelor’s degree in the USA, Australia, UK, Canada (English speaking part), Ireland or New Zealand.
- Applicants who have obtained their Bachelor’s degree at a Dutch university (Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs – academic Bachelor’s degree).
Applicants can request a waiver from the requirement to submit an English test score if:
- they have completed an entirely English-taught Bachelor’s degree from a country other than those stipulated above;
- they have been raised and/or educated in the USA, Australia, UK, Canada (English speaking part), Ireland or New Zealand, but do not have the country’s nationality;
- they have a sufficient test score which is more than two years old and can submit proof that they have actively maintained their English since taking the test.
As stated before, the waiver request will be evaluated by the admissions committee. Please note that the admissions committee will not evaluate waiver requests from applicants who have submitted an English test score that does not meet our minimum test score requirements, as stipulated above (including the scores for the individual test components).
Please also note that submitting a waiver request does not mean that the admissions committee will decide to grant the request, and that the committee’s decisions are final.
Language Policy
At the UvA, we have a language policy with several dimensions, one of which is language proficiency upon admittance. The UvA has an expert group on admission (including language issues) that periodically discusses elements of admissions, including English (and Dutch) language test scores, comparison of scores, and the list of (Bachelor’s) degrees in countries that grant an ‘automatic’ exemption to submitting a proof of English language proficiency. All programmes of the Graduate School of Social Sciences obviously comply with UvA’s language policy framework regarding the tests accepted, the scores required and the general exemptions.